As always the hunt for items continues - I may not have as much time as I used to for finding bits and pieces on eBay however when I do find an item I want I make sure there is a reminder in my calendar to pick it up.

This was the case with a recent purchase which saw me acquire an item I had never seen before - a display from the Back to the Future Happy Meal series (including toys).

McDonalds Happy Meals are a great collecting area with demand on popular lines on eBay seeing top prices - Despicable Me Minions and Smurfs are recent examples of lines that people want.

In 1992 McDonalds decided to launch a collection which tied in with the animated series of the classic movie Back to the Future.

Interestingly the Doc toy actually got pulled from the line due to the fact the wheels could come off the DeLorean easily and thus was classed as a choking hazard - this however didn't stop thousands of these already being sold so they don't prove too hard to find even now.

Anyway.....

Picking up this item saw me get into a slight bidding war - and there is no denying its seen better days however regardless my plan will be to put it into a display case and keep safe from further damage.

A few close up shots from the item are below -

These toys can be picked up on auction sites and at car boots even now - the Happy Meal boxes from them can also be found - however I haven't seen a display like this sold before - I am not even sure if any others even exist?

Sometimes, even if the item is a bit beat up, it has to be brought.

These kind of things don't show up too often, and I have learnt from past experience don't regret on missing out for the sake of a couple of pounds!

I'd love to hear from other McDonalds Happy Meal collectors about what lines they collect and if they have been able to obtain ex-display models at all......

Saturday 22nd March saw me take another trip to Memorabilia at the NEC in Birmingham - the show has really exploded into a place for all things Comic/TV/Movie related in the last few years and now has grown so big visitors from all over come to check it out.My trip to the event last year was more of a browsing session as I was pretty sure trying to pick up Django Unchained figures would prove just a difficult a task as it sounded.This year I attended with a purpose - to pick up any Preacher comics I could find along with a Jimmy Hart WWF LJN figure (MIB) for him to sign at next months Wales Comic Con. I also had my normal Back to the Future purchasing eye out!Background Info on my search points - Preacher is a comic book series created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon and ran from 1995-2000 and it would seem as if it is all set to become the latest TV series hit from AMC (who also make The Walking Dead). I've recently been purchasing the Preacher comic books in online auctions and thought I'd see what I could find at the show.Jimmy Hart is the former WWF (WWE) Manager of numerous Tag Teams and Single Wrestlers - working with greats such as The Honkytonk Man and Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine, not forgetting the Immortal Hulk Hogan and Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake.Back to the Future - Is and will always be my favourite film - no introduction needed there!Upon arrival I started browsing with no sign of Preacher or Jimmy Hart's - I did find a couple of the Walter White Vamonos Pest Control Breaking Bad figures but at £35 a piece I knew I could get them cheaper away from the show.

Walking round I did see a lot of great things - A Back to the Future 2 poster magazine - which again at £20 seemed way too high. Planet of the Apes figures from the initial revamp of the series at £5 each (I was going to offer £10 for 3 if I found nothing else) but then as I was heading back towards the exit I thought I'd chance my luck and walk round one more time.I found a seller who specialised in old movie posters - I had a look to see if there were and BTTF 2 one sheets - but no good. They then had their 'bargain boxes' so I browsed through - and was in luck......First Out came these Jurassic Park : The Lost World Lobby Cards -

I've always enjoyed the Jurassic Park Series and knowing previously lobby card sets holding value in later years picked them up.Next out of the bargain box came this Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull German Poster -

Not my favourite of the Indy films but something worth having - it may well be this gets framed and put onto the wall of my planned 'Man Cave' at some point.Last up was something I was delighted to have found - initially I was convinced that they were Back to the Future 2 Lobby Cards from Germany - however the CIC Video sign suggested perhaps they should have been included with some kind of video promotion..... it wasn't until I got home that night I realised they weren't lobby cards as such......

The above photo isn't the best quality buy what it actually turned out to be was a poster size sheet of scenes from the film. Very unique and very cool - especially if your a BTTF fan like me!These purchases lead to me walking round a bit longer - chatting to sellers and gaining new contacts.Then on was pretty much my last stop of the day I found a seller who had Preacher comics I numbers! My aim of the day was done!I purchased a number of the Preacher comics he had - I can't explain how happy I was to get them, those I picked up are in the picture below -

My day was a success - I went with an aim and was able to complete it!The Jimmy Hart mission continues but for my Preacher task I am now only 20 issues short of a full 66 comic set!

I toyed with the idea of attending a second day but with Wales Comic Con just a month away the pennies will be saved for that!I'm certainly looking forward to the next Memorabilia later in the year - this looks set to be my new thing to do every six months now!

Back at the tail end of September 2013 Premiere Props held one of their regular auctions through ICollector - and included within this sat some Back to the Future lots, which, needless to say caught my attention.

Back to the Future props always demand top dollar - screen matched items can sell for massive figures and as much as I would love to sink every penny I have into owning items from the film it simply can't happen!

I was fortunate enough to win some Cafe 80's slides a few years back - and also own a couple of Biff Co items too however unless I win the lottery the big pieces aren't going to be coming my way.

So it was with a careless bid on the off chance I may win something I went after the above item - 'A Ford Sign' - I put in a bottom bid - and somehow won it!

Sure I know its not screen matched (although part of the fun will be rewatching the movie in the hope it fleetingly appears)

My plans for it? Simple - frame the COA - and hang the item in my man cave - it makes for cool viewing and is a great conversation piece.

There is something genuinely cool about owning something from your favorite film - big or small - and for now its small things like this that will keep me entertained.

Of course if any eagle eyed BTTF fan out there can spot if this does show in the film at all let me know.

Its another Back to the Future piece for my collection.

2015 looks set to be a bumper year for BTTF fans with the 30th Anniversary, The Musical and Self Tying Laces set to make it a year to remember.

Who knows - maybe we will get a working hoverboard by then too........

23rd November 2013 - NEC Birmingham, England - the setting for Winter Memorabilia. I'd visited this event numerous times in the past but this was my first time there in 3 years.

It had certainly grown since my last visit - what had previously been a fairly low key spacious affair has now turned into a mass of comics,movies, TV and collectibles - with hundreds of people crammed into the rows of stalls, exhibits and cosplayers.

Needless to say I'm glad I payed it a visit!

My targets for the day were -

Breaking Bad FiguresWWF HasbroDjango Unchained Figures

However I failed to find suitable items on all 3.

Breaking Bad figures remain in demand given how popular the TV show was - however the only option to purchase one at the entire event was for a Heisenberg Figure - at £35 I decided to pass - I have one of these I picked up for £20 off the shelf a few months back.

WWF Hasbro figures were also somewhat scarce - just a few battered Rockers and Legion of Dooms scattered about.

As for Django - well - they are way to hard to find. I have got some from other sources - but more on those in the coming weeks.

Anyway - whilst browsing one stall I couldn't help but notice a 'Hollywood Heroes' T-Shirt. It was busy with a camera crew and knowing the shirt I immediately clicked it would be something to do with the show Toy Hunter. I walked back past the stall 10 minutes later and the shows host Jordan Hembrough was on there.

It turns out he was in the UK filming for his next season.

I had a chance to speak to Jordan about Wrestling Figures and a few other bits and pieces - then got a photo with him.....

It was nice to meet him - and lets face it - he does have a job many of us who are in the collecting world would love!

I'd like to say I brought loads of items at the show - however such is the way these shows are many of the items are just that bit higher than I want to spend.

I did make one purchase - some 1986 Remco Karate Kid figures - nothing too flashy - but a nice little addition!

I'm sure I will visit the show come spring next year - if anything its a day out - and you never know who or what you may see.

I have a few items I am awaiting to arrive - those of you who like Back to the Future and also Paranorman may want to keep your eyes on these pages in the coming weeks!

Finally - can I just put a quick congratulations out to Brian Adams who runs coolandcollected.com.

If you like pop culture check his site out.

Anyway - he ran a kickstarter campaign to get the cool and collected magazine made - and hit his target!

Any story behind it?You'll know by now my favorite film trilogy is Back to the Future - and when I heard there was a movie props and wardrobe auction taking place that featured items from the film, the chance to bid was too good to turn down. So I set myself up with a plan to bid on 3 of the items - and if I won excellent - if not I would have to wait and see if any items ever surfaced again......What exactly is it?You know that scene in Back to the Future 2 where Marty McFly goes to the future to stop his son ruining his life and enters Cafe 80's? Well the folks that made the film made sure every detail was covered - including the menu at Cafe 80's itself. I ended up winning 1 of my 3 planned bids - missing out on a Hill Valley Police Car Door Emblem and Biff money. The auction I did win was for 34 production made slides from the dishes served at Cafe 80's - all based around 80's icons - example dishes are 'Reagan Scramble' & 'Gorbachev Goulash'.The slides come with a Cetificate of Authenticity.Is it Rare?Collecting Back to the Future props and wardrobe can be a very expensive - and the price certainly reflects the rarity. Before this auction I have never seen anything like these - and I don't think I will anytime soon. Chances are others exist - but I doubt very much if they will surface.Will it be back?It was never out there to begin with - the items aren't sold in shops or online - these are rare and limited production items.Where can I get one now?As it turns out there were duplicates of the slides I won - so - I will be listing the duplicates via a well known auction site in due course. And FinallyThe slides are date stamped 'April 89' - pretty cool given the fact it shows their time in history. My plans for the ones I own are to frame them - with a photo of the slide in its 'blown up' form next to it.

Entry number two - and I figured why not continue with the Back to the Future theme - I have a few things set to come in that BTTF fans are bound to love - a little hint is Cafe 80's - but more about that in the next few weeks. Back to todays entry - and today we get into the world of art. The item in question is -

'2015" Print by Phil GibsonAny Story Behind it?Its pretty clear that I like Back to the Future - and the range of collectable items from the film is endless. Earlier this year I was in an inspired mood to purchase some art work - and after a few hours spent browsing various websites and ebay I came across this gem - a print by an artist named Phil Gibson - entitled '2015".

A few clicks later it was mine.......What exactly is it?Its a limited edition print by Phil Gibson of the famous Nike shoes and Mattel Hoverboard.Is it rare?The answer in short to this is yes...... limited to just 55 prints there won't be many of these left if you don't pick one up soon.Will it be back?Unlikely - unless of course the artist decides to commision some more.Where can I get one now?Two places - firstly eBay - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Back-Future-McFly-2015-Print-Phil-Gibson-Hoverboard-Nike-Air-Mag-DOC-/160654177610 - however accroding to the stats as of writing just 3 remain at the bargain price of just $24.Equally you can visit Phil direct on his website - http://www.mycultcanvas.com/And FinallySome of the details glow in the dark! Brilliant! I have this item framed with this numbered card that is provided with it in the corner. Very cool item if your a BTTF fan!!Nice to own a 1 of 55 item!!

We figured we would start small with our first entry – small but with something that has massive collectability!Purchased just over a month ago the first entry from our adventures in collecting is a –

Time Machine Restoration Team Mission Patch.Any story behind it?We all love Back to the Future – I don’t think I have ever met someone who dislikes the films.Writer and producer of the film - Bob Gale - is currently restoring the iconic DeLorean ‘A’ car from the film – from what I understand once the car has been fully restored it will be put on permanent display at Universal Studios Hollywood in a indoor facility – making sure it will forever remain in top condition and intact.This patch commemorates this event taking place.What exactly is it?Pretty simple really – it’s an embroidered souvenir patch - The patch is close to 5’’ in size.Is it rare?

You bet! They were produced in a limited run of just 200 and sold via the excellent BTTF.COM / BTTF.NET store – you’ll note I used the term ‘were’ – that’s because they are all sold out! At a price of just $22.88 and needing to be purchased before the clock tower struck at 10.04 PM on Monday 25th June 2012 time has finally ran out on getting this item!Will it be back?The run of the initial 200 has now gone – perhaps in the future more will become available – but the 200 have gone for good.Where can I get one now?Ebay is going to be your best bet – although you’ll end up paying more than the initial $22.88!And finallyIt’s a cool item – especially if you’re a Back to the Future fan – I love the films (as you’ll see with my posts over time) and this item fits perfectly into my collection. My patch is numbered 166 out of 200 - what numbers have other people got? Feel free to comment if you have one!